How to Start a Blog for Free: Best 6 Steps for Starting Your Site Now

One of the best ways to make money from home and make money online is to start a blog. It’s even better if you can start a blog for free and then turn your blog into a steady stream of profits.

However, it can be intimidating to try and start up a new blog all by yourself. That’s why we put together this helpful guide. We’ll cover the benefits of using a blog to make money, the basics of how to start a blog, and then we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

Use this information to help yourself get a blog started. You can use blogging as a profession or just use it as a way to make some easy money on the side. You don’t even have to use your blog to turn a profit – you can just use it as a way to express yourself and connect with like minded people!

Benefits of Making Money with a Blog

There are several benefits to using a blog to make money. Some of the best benefits are:

Get paid repeatedly for work you do once

Get paid to talk about things you know and love

Make money connecting with people that share similar interests

You can manage more than one blog at a time

You can make money with a blog from the comfort of your own home

One of the best things about using a blog to make money is the fact that you will continue to earn long after you’ve finished a post. For example, if someone pays you to write an article, you write the article and get paid. However, when you have your own blog, you can write the article and then you’ll get paid over and over again whenever someone sees an ad on the page or makes a purchase through an affiliate link.

Another great thing about making money with a blog is that you can use it as a way to talk about the things you know and love. You’ll also be able to connect with people that enjoy the same things as you!

That means you’ll be able to turn your hobby into a steady stream of income. You can finally be one of those people who are happy to go to work every day! That is, if you even count it as going to work. You can manage your blog and post articles from anywhere in the world. As a result, you could simply start working from home.

How to Start a Blog 101

There are a few different steps you’ll want to take when you’re looking to start a blog. Whether you want to know how to start a fashion blog, how to start a travel blog, how to start a food blog, or any other type of blog, these steps will be the same.

The next sections will cover everything you need to start a blog in a step-by-step format. We’ll cover the technical aspects first and talk about hosting. After that, we’ll discuss blog topics.

We’re not going to tell you want kind of blog to pick – that’s up to you. However, we’ll help you understand the best way to work within whatever topic you choose to maximize your profits and views.

After that we’ll look at picking a domain name and setting up your content management system. Most people use a CMS called WordPress. In fact, most hosting services will set up WordPress for you automatically.

Finally, we’ll talk about how to make money from your blog. There are a few different ways for your blog to make money. It’ll be up to you to pick the best options for your particular blog.

Step One to Create a Blog: Pick a Host

The first step to creating a blog is to pick a host. A host is essentially your digital landlord. They’ll give you space on their servers and provide a place for your blog to live. It’s important to note that a host is not the same thing as a domain name, which is the web address you use to get to different sites.

There are lots of different choices for hosts. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. Moreover, each hosting service will run different kinds of deals and promotional offers. That means it’s important to do a good comparison between your options.

There are a few things that you’ll want to check when you’re setting up your hosting. First, make sure your hosting service offers enough storage to handle your blog’s content. Most blogs starting out won’t have a problem, but if you’ve got a ton of high-definition images, videos, or other large files, then you may run into problems.

Second, you’ll want to ensure your hosting service will let you put up ads (if you want them) or will provide support for online transactions (if you want them). For example, there are some services that offer free hosting, but you aren’t allowed to place ads on those blogs. That limits the ways you’ll have to make money from your blog.

Finally, you should see if your hosting service will handle installing your content management system, or CMS. Most hosting services will include this for free. The most popular CMS is WordPress. We’ll talk about CMS stuff in a bit. However, if you’re not super technical, then you’ll want to make sure the process is as easy as possible.

Step Two to Create a Blog: Pick a Topic

The next step to creating a blog is to pick a topic. There’s no restrictions on the topics you can pick. However, the blogs that do the best are those that are updated regularly. Therefore, you’ll want to pick a subject that you’ll be happy to write about frequently.

When you’re picking a topic, you’re playing a bit of a Goldilocks game. You don’t want the topic to be too broad or too narrow. For example, a blog about collectibles is probably too big. A blog that’s about collecting coins produced by the US mint from 1800-1810 is probably too narrow. However, a blog about collecting US coins is just right.

If you pick a topic that’s too broad, then you’ll be competing with many other sites for traffic, which will make it harder to get viewers and make money. However, if your topic is too small, then there won’t be enough interest in it to get a good amount of readers.

One popular way to pick a topic is to focus on a specific element of a larger subject. For example, if you want to start a travel blog, then you may want to focus your topic on certain aspects of travel or traveling through a certain region. That way you’ll still get viewers but you won’t be working as hard to compete with larger and more established sites.

Step Three to Create a Blog: Choose a Domain Name

The next step is also pretty easy – you’ll need to pick a domain name for your new blog. Your domain name is the web address that your site will use. Many people like .com names, but new internet standards mean that your name can be anything that’s not already taken. For example, DOSH, a popular cashback app, uses the name dosh.cash for their site.

Your blog name should represent your topic. There’s a lot of debate about how much your blog name matters for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, and that conversation falls outside the scope of this article. However, good domain names are catchy and will stick with readers. That way, even if they don’t subscribe they’ll remember how to get back to your site to check for new content.

There are different ways to secure a domain name. Usually, your hosting service will offer to help you register for one. You can also secure a domain name through one service and get your hosting elsewhere. Any domain name can be hosted with any hosting service.

Step Four to Create a Blog: Set Up Your Content Management System

Now that you’ve got hosting and a domain, you’ll need to set up a content management system. WordPress is the most popular content management system and is very easy to set up.

Understanding Content Management Systems

A content management system is a tool that makes handling all of the technical aspects of your blog easy. You can pick from lots of different themes online and customize them to give your blog a unique look. It also makes it easy to add pages and posts, update your pages and posts, add images, videos, and files, and do everything else you want a website to do.

One of the most important aspects of a content management system is that you can easily change any aspect of your blog. For example, if a new theme comes out that you like, you can simply switch to the new theme and all of your posts and pages will update automatically. That way it’s really easy to make sure your blog stays looking fresh.

Step Five to Create a Blog: Start Writing!

Once you’ve set up your CMS and picked a theme, it’s time to start writing! Remember, the more often you produce new content, the better your blog will perform. Additionally, regular updates for your blog will help keep readers coming back. After all, everyone hates it when they find a great blog but have to wait weeks at a time for updates.

Many successful bloggers have a schedule for posts. You can also establish a schedule. With a CMS like WordPress, you can even write your posts ahead of time, preview them to make sure they look good, and then schedule them to post at a specific time. That way you can get your writing done all at once. You can also save posts and come back to finish them later.

When you write a blog article there are a few things you can do to help make it successful. First – make sure the subject of the article is clear. Some people like to write articles that are targeted to certain keywords that people might search. This is one way of increasing your traffic.

Second, you’ll want to make sure your blog posts are long enough to produce value for the reader. The longer someone stays on your page, the more ads they’ll see and the more money you’ll get. Also, the longer someone stays engaged with your content, the higher the chance they’ll come back for more.

However, it’s important not to just add stuff to a post to make it longer. People can tell if your writing starts veering off course. This will make them want to stop looking at your blog.

Next, it’s important to use subheadings to divide your post. Subheadings help with SEO. They also help make it easier to read your post. They provide a visual way to break up pieces of text. Subheadings also let people know what the next section of the article will be about. That helps them understand the article better, and thus increases the chances they’ll come back to your blog for more content.

Step Six: Making Money with Your Blog

Finally, you’re ready to make money with your blog. There are three primary ways that blogs can generate revenue for you. They are ads, affiliate deals, and products. We’ll cover each of these ways here.

Ads

The first thing that people think about when they consider how a blog can make money is ads. However, there are lots of different ways to get ads on your blog. Many advertising services allow you to sign up and dedicate a section of your blog to ad space. These services don’t pay as much as more dedicated or specialized services, but they can be used by anyone.

You can also work out advertising deals with companies and products related to your blog’s topic. These sorts of ads usually pay much better, as the viewers are qualified, or more likely to want the products being advertised.

Every ad service has its own revenue model. You’ll have to look at the different services to determine which one will be best for your blog. Some ad services pay for views, others only pay for clicks. Sometimes ad services will pay for both views and clicks. You’ll need to see which option matches your goals.

One thing that’s important is that you don’t want to dedicate too much of your blog space to ads. This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. If your blog is full of ads, then people won’t be as interested in going back to it. Also, a ton of ads can slow your site down and cause you to drop in search rankings, which will lower the amount of traffic you get.

Affiliates

The next option to make money starting a blog is through affiliate deals. Affiliate deals are fairly common for blogs, and they’re easy to set up and take advantage of.

An affiliate is someone that pays you when something happens on your site, usually relating to a sale of a good or service. For example, if you have a blog that reviews mattresses, then a company might offer you an affiliate deal. That means you’ll get a commission every time someone comes to their site by clicking a link on your site and makes a purchase.

That’s one of the reasons why so many blogs do product reviews. They review products they like, and the company pays them to send more traffic to their site. That way, both you and the company get to make more profit, and consumers get to know what the best products are!

There are lots of different ways that an affiliate deal can be set up. The best option to make money with your blog is to pick affiliate deals that give you credit for a sale that happens within a certain number of days of the customer reading your site. That way you’ll still get paid even if the reader takes some time to think about the purchase.

Another benefit to doing reviews on your blog is that sometimes companies will send you free stuff! That means your blog can be a great way to get paid to further your hobby or interests. It makes money for you, and you’re getting stuff for free, so you’re spending less of your own money. It’s a win-win situation!

Products

The last way that a blog makes money is by offering a product or service. There are lots of tools to help you do this. One of the most helpful tools is drop-shipping. These services let you store goods at a warehouse. When someone makes a purchase the warehouse ships their order. As a result, you don’t have to deal with inventory crowding your house.

These services also exist for on-demand printing. Many bloggers make extra money on the side by offering things like t-shirts that relate to their topic or books and other information. Drop-printing services let you sell these things one at a time to customers without having to store them or even make them ahead of time.

Now, it may seem complicated to set up drop-shopping or on-demand print services for your blog, but that’s not the case at all! The reason is that your CMS will allow you to easily add these services to your page. The CMS takes care of the hard technical work. You just need to be creative and reap in the profits!

What Not to Do to Make Money from a Blog

As your blog gets popular and you start making more and more money, you’ll need to manage your blog carefully. There are going to be money making opportunities that sound good, but will hurt the long-term health of your blog.

First, don’t write positive reviews of products you don’t think are good just to get affiliate money. It make work in the short term, but once people figure out your trick, they won’t want to come back to your site. That means your revenue will drop substantially.

Second, you’ll want to ensure that you carefully scrutinize any offers you get. You’ll start getting companies asking if they can make a guest post on your blog, if you can do a guest post for their blog, offers to consult or speak on your blogs topic, and so on.

Some of these offers will be good. Some of them will seem good but actually be bad. Make sure you consider how any offer relates to the long-term health and sustainability of your blog. While you can always start another blog, it takes time to develop a following a reputation which allows your blog to make money.

Also, when your blog gets popular, you may get offers from people to purchase the domain name. Don’t let the figures on these offers blind your decision making. It may be a good idea to take the deal, but you’ll want to think about how much money your domain name will make you if it keeps growing at its current rate. Over time, you’ll likely make far more keeping the domain name than you would by selling it. Make sure you really want to sell before you agree to anything.

As you can see, it’s not hard at all to start a blog. If you’re trying to figure out how to start a blog and get paid, then these easy steps are the path for you. When you start your own blog you’ll face some trials and ups and downs. However, it is a great way to get passive revenue, get paid to do the things you love, and control your own working hours. There’s also lots of helpful articles online (like this one!) to help you resolve any issues you come across.

So don’t wait any longer. Start your own blog today and start earning the money you deserve!

FAQ

Starting a Blog Basics

If you are considering the idea of starting your blog, this section contains all of the common questions you might find yourself asking. These questions (and their answers) will provide you the clarity you need when it comes to deciding if a blog is worth your investment of time and effort.

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Should I start a blog?

Before you start a blog, you must consider a few things first. First and foremost, you need to think about the type of content you want to make and if you can produce the content for your blog. It is also important to consider if you have enough time to work on your blog. It might appear simple but it can actually be demanding in terms of your time and effort.

Why start a blog?

The answer to this question will depend on your personal reasons for starting one. Most people start a blog to earn residual income. For a few others, it is an opportunity to explore their passion and showcase their creativity through writing.

Where can I start a blog?

The easiest way to set up a blog is to find free hosts such as Blogger or WordPress. Most of these blogging hosts will provide you with a template you can use.

Can anyone start a blog?

Yes. You can start a blog as long as you have a computer and internet connection.

When did blogging start?

The idea of a blog started out in 1994. However, the term “weblog” was coined in 1997.

When did video blogging start?

Video blogging, also known as vlogging, started in 2005. It is now one of the most popular methods of blogging.

Making Money with a Blog

Starting a blog to make money is one of the primary motivations for bloggers for setting up one. If you are also looking to maximize your blog’s earning potential, you will find the information you need to know here.

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Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Where to start a blog and make money?

You can choose any free or paid blogging platform to start your blog. The niche and content are the two most important factors you should take care of if you want to monetize your blog.

When should you start monetizing your blog?

You can start monetizing your blog right away. However, if your blog is relatively new, it might be difficult to find monetization opportunities. Google Adsense, one of the top ad networks that pay bloggers, require your blog to be at least 3 months old when you apply into the ad program. Some companies that will sponsor your blog require you to provide a solid number when it comes to traffic, as well.

Is starting a blog a real money maker?

It will depend on the niche of blog you have chosen. At the same time, it will also depend on the amount of traffic that you can generate.

When should I start putting ads on my blog?

It will depend on your goal for the blog and how you want to monetize it. But if you want to place ads to your blog via Google Adsense, it requires that your blog should be at least 3 months old and must have regular content.

Where to start blogging for money?

You can apply for positions as blogger for any existing website. Or, you can set up your own blog that you can monetize with ads, affiliates, and sponsored posts.

When should I start advertising on my blog?

If you want to accept advertisements on your blog, it is best to wait for a month or two. This will enable you to establish readership on your blog and have substantial information on your blog traffic. This information is often required by advertisers so they can determine if your blog is an ideal place for their ads.

When can you start adding affiliate links to a blog?

To add affiliate links, you need to apply to affiliate programs that are partnered with many brands and e-commerce stores. You can start adding affiliate links as soon as you are approved into the program. It will be upon the affiliate network’s discretion in choosing which blogs to approve.

Blogging Specifics

If you are new to blogging, you will have plenty of questions regarding the specific details of setting up and maintaining a blog. You can find the answers to your questions here.

Your Title Goes Here

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Is it worth starting a blog?

If you can promote your blog to a point that you can make substantial income from it, then it is definitely worth it. Since this is a passive income source, you can still earn money from your blog even when you are not working on it.

What to know before starting a blog?

Some of the most essential things to take care of when you are about to start a blog includes the blog name, blog URL, hosting, and the blogging platform you use.

What do you need to start a blog?

Once you have chosen a blogging platform and host, you need to have patience and commitment. It is important that you update your blog regularly to ensure that you can generate income off of it.

What is the best website to start a blog?

Blogger and WordPress are the two top blogging platforms that bloggers recommend. You can choose either one of the two. Other options include Weebly, Tumblr, and Squarespace.

What can I start a blog about?

It will depend on you. Ideally, you can set up a blog on a niche that you are interested in or passionate about. This will enable you to produce content that you are knowledgeable with until you can build a solid readership base.

What’s the best way to start a blog?

The best way to start a blog is to identify your niche. The blogging world is already saturated. If you can distinguish yourself from other bloggers, it will make it easier for you to establish your readership base.

Why start a personal blog?

Starting a personal blog is a smart idea if you have an expertise on a specific niche and you want to be recognized as an authority. For example, if you are an expert realtor within a specific area. You can set up a blog to establish your authority and expertise as a real estate expert. In a way, it also boosts your personal brand.

Is it too late to start blogging?

No, there is no such thing as too late to start blogging. But the sooner you get started, the better.

Can you start a blog on Instagram?

Yes. However, many would refer to it as a “micro blog”. Since Instagram is a highly popular social media, many bloggers and influencers have used it as a platform to providing content to their followers.

Where can I start writing a blog?

You can start writing a blog anywhere. You may keep a journal to jot down ideas for future blog posts. You can refer to that list when trying to come up with blog ideas.

What is a good blog site to start?

If you are looking for a free blogging platform, WordPress is the number one choice for bloggers. This is a good option for those starting out and wants a free platform while they are unable to monetize their blogs yet.

Can you start a blog on Facebook?

No. Facebook does not have a blog platform that you can use. You can, however, use Facebook to promote your blog and its content.

What does it cost to start a blog?

If you choose to set up a blog with a free blogging platform (like WordPress and Blogger), you can start a blog for free. But if you want a paid host and a unique domain name, most domain names will start at $10 per year. The cost of starting a blog will vary on your chosen hosting provider.

What type of blog should I start?

The type or niche of blog you start will depend on your personal preferences and interest. Ideally, think of a unique angle to your blog (if you would like to start a blog within a niche that is saturated). This will enable your blog to establish a unique value proposition to your target audience.

Which content management system CMS started out creating blogs?

WordPress and Blogger are two types of content management systems that established themselves as blogging platforms. Other popular CMS that are now used as blogging platforms include Wix and Weebly.

Do I need a domain name to start a blog?

Yes. Your domain name will help with brand recall and also establish the niche of your blog. If you use your own hosting, it will also serve as the URL to your website/blog.

Where to start a blog for free?

You can set up a blog using WordPress or Blogger as a platform. Both of these websites allow you to create a blog for free. Plus, you can choose from many pre-made blog templates.

Where to start a food blog?

You need to find a reliable hosting for your domain if you want to start a food blog. Choose a theme for your blog and then start creating content!

Should I start a blog or a YouTube channel?

The decision whether to start a blog or YouTube channel will depend on your preference. If you prefer to write, a blog is a great way for you to generate extra income. On the other, setting up a YouTube channel is great if you prefer to make videos.

Is WordPress a good place to start a blog?

WordPress is a free blogging platform. It is the preferred choice for bloggers who are serious about blogging to make money.

Do I need a website to start a blog?

No. You can set up a blog directly. No need to create a separate website.

What is the best platform to start a blog?

The best blogging platform varies from one user to another. However, WordPress and Blogger are two platforms that are most popular with bloggers since they are easy to customize, set up, and earn from.

What website did Zoella start her blog on?

Zoella started her blog on WordPress, which is a free blogging platform. Over time, she created her own domain name and web hosting.

Where to start a blog page?

You can start a blog using your preferred blog hosting platform. If you want a free platform, your options include WordPress and Blogger. You can also buy your own domain name and hosting.

Can I start an anonymous blog?

Yes. WordPress enables authors of blogs to use a pseudonym, for those who prefer to blog anonymously.

Should I start a blog about my life?

It is up to you. If you are fine sharing details about your personal life, you can definitely write content about your life on the blog.

Should you start a blog in 2018?

If you want to generate extra income from blogging, you can definitely start your own blog this 2018. There are many opportunities available now for bloggers to monetize their blog. You need to take advantage of these opportunities by setting up your own blog.

Where to start a fashion blog?

To start a fashion blog, you need to choose the best blogging platform. You can pick between free or paid blogging platforms. You will need a hosting provider, too. Once that is all set, you can start making content for your fashion blog.

Can you start a blog from your phone?

Yes. You can use your mobile phone to access WordPress or Blogger. You can even write content from your mobile.

Where to start a travel blog?

If you want to start a travel blog, you need to find a blogging platform first. It could be a paid or free blogging platform – it is up to you. Once you have found a blogging platform and hosting provider, you can think about your travel blog niche and name.

What I wish I knew before starting a blog?

One of the things that bloggers realize after they have set up their blog is that it is a full-time job. It is demanding of your time and effort. Aside from writing blog posts, you must also spend a great deal of your time promoting the posts to get blog traffic.

Is Tumblr a good place to start a blog?

Tumblr is a great website to introduce you to blogging. But if you want to be a serious blogger, Tumblr is not the best choice, especially for monetization.

What not to do when starting a blog?

Do not be hasty in choosing your niche or blog name. You won’t be able to change them once you have set up your blog. Make sure you think them through as they are also crucial in branding your blog.

Am I interesting enough to start a blog?

When creating a blog, you do not need to worry about whether people will find you interesting. There are various blog niches that you can choose from. You do not always have to talk about your personal life, especially if you are not comfortable sharing them to your readers.

Should you start a blog before Thanksgiving?

There is no right or wrong time to start a blog. You can create a blog whenever you want.

Should I start a funny blog in college?

You can start any kind of blog that you want. It is a good way to practice your blogging skills and to establish your reputation as a blogger, too.

Why you should not start a blog?

Do not start a blog solely for the purpose of making money. While this is a practical reason to, it will show if you are only interested in making money. It is important that you share something that you are passionate about on your blog as it will help to attract your readers.

Should I start a gaming blog?

If you are passionate about it, then you should. The gaming industry is quite progressive right now; if you can carve your blog into this niche, it could potentially be lucrative.

Should I start a finance and economics blog?

Finance and economics is a growing niche in the blog industry. If you are passionate about this niche, you can consider starting your own blog.

Can a child start a blog?

There are many blogging platforms that are specifically catered for children aged 13 or below. When helping your child set up their own blog, make sure to choose those sites.

Should I start a poetry blog?

If you are passionate about poetry, or you want to showcase your poetry work, setting up a blog in this niche is a great way to get your work (and blog) noticed.

Can you start a blog on Twitter?

No. Twitter does not have a platform for blogging. It does, however, allow you to share your blog posts on your Twitter timeline.

What do I need to start a photography blog?

You need a blogging platform, domain name, and a host. Once that is set up, you must think of a blog name and your photography niche (as there are many photography blogs out there). It is important to distinguish your unique style from other photographers so your blog will stand out.

Is Wix a good place to start a blog?

Wix is one of the top blogging platforms out there. It is an easy way to set up your blog, just like Blogger and WordPress, since you can choose from a variety of blog templates. It is also a user-friendly website with many drag and drop features when setting up your blog template.

Can you start a free WordPress blog?

Yes. WordPress is a free blogging platform. You can use it to set up your blog for free.

Should a fifteen year old start a blog?

If a child is passionate about writing or blogging, there is no reason not to start their own blog. This is the beauty of blogging – anyone can start a blog, regardless of the age.

Rachel Carey

Financial Guru

Rachel is dedicated to helping individuals and families boost their budgets so they can enjoy the lifestyle they deserve. Rachel graduated with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. She’s a prolific finance writer, producing tons of articles on different aspects of personal and family budget management.